Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur

Kundapur, Jun 17: A young girl was found dead under suspicious circumstances near a temple at Ottinene near Byndoor here on the evening of Wednesday June 17.

The deceased, identified as Akshata Devadiga (17), was the daughter of Babu and Radha Devadiga, residents of Henaberu.

Akshata was a second year PU student studying in the science section of a junior college at Byndoor.

Akshata used to walk to college everyday, and had to pass through an acacia plantation to reach home from college. It is said that on Wednesday, she left from college at 4.30 pm, but did not reach home. When her worried family members called the college to check, they learnt that she had left at the usual time. A frantic search was conducted, and towards late evening, her body was found among the bushes near a temple, about 50 metres from the path passing through acacia plantation.

The exact cause for the death is not yet known, but it is suspected to be a case of murder, as her uniform shawl was found to be wrapped around her neck giving the appearance of strangulation, police sources said.

The eldest among three daughters of Babu and Radha Devadiga, Akshata was said to be brilliant in studies and had scored 93 percent in SSLC. She had even won an award from the government for being among the toppers from rural areas. The award was presented to her recently in Mysuru.

Udupi SP Annamalai visited the spot along with other police personnel. Fingerprint experts and canine squad were also called. The body has been sent for post-mortem to Manipal.

It may be recalled that last year in July, another young girl named Ratna Kottary was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a similar way near Byndoor. Her family is yet to get justice.

Byndoor police have registered a case and investigations are on.